Commelinaceae
	Genera : 38 - 50 Species: 600 -700   To Genus Directories: Commelina Setcreasea pallida (image) Tradescantia

Distribution: Widespread throughout the subtropical and tropical regions, with a few in the temperate regions of North America, China, Japan and Australia.

Economic Uses: As a cultivated ornamental as well as used medicinally.

Defining Features of Interest: The taxa of the family are often succulent, with swollen nodes and have three -celled, glandular hairs.

Fossil Evidence: No known fossil record.

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Actinomorphic or zygomorphic and perfect (rarely unisexual). Inflorescence a cymeborne at the stem apex or in the leaf axils. Hypogynous. Subtended by one or more bracts (spathes).

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit a capsule. Seeds with a swelling on the outer surface indicating the location of the embryo within (termed a embryostega) and sometimes covered with an aril. Endosperm present and mealy. Placentation is axile.

Vegetative Features : Habit is as an herb. Leaves simple, entire and alternate with sheathing at the base. Stipules lacking